MapAction - Map and data repository and marketing website

An emergency map publishing system that supports humanitarian workers in the field

Feb 2016 to Dec 2016

Purpose-icon

Purpose

Humanitarian emergencies can strike without warning, destroying lives and livelihoods. In the immediate aftermath, the challenge for those responding is to know where to start. Within hours MapAction can send skilled mapping experts to the affected area. They help collect vital data and create maps that help support the relief effort. They need somewhere to keep their catalogue of maps that is reliable and doesn’t slow them down. They also need a marketing website, to help promote their hard work and gain support.

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People

The map and data repository supports the workflow of people in the field. MapAction's team need to be able to upload maps with poor internet connectivity. They need the system to be reliable and quick. Other organisations in the field want to be able to access local data and maps online to help with their work. They want to be able to find MapAction's maps alongside data and resources from other organisations.

The marketing website needed to give MapAction a voice that fits with their values. Collaborative, independent, responsive, volunteerism, technical and transparent. They want show people how their work makes a difference and encourage donations.

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Process

The first part of the project was to a create the map and data repository. To start, we talked to MapAction and and other users to understand their needs. It was clear that they required a robust system for publishing and updating their maps and data. Users look for data and maps on websites like The Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) so we created a means by which MapAction could syndicate their datasets to HDX. We also provided a GeoRSS feed to allow interested parties to be alerted to new datasets via social media.

The marketing website came later, after they had decided on a new brand. This was a rapid project to redevelop their website with more up to date technology and design. We launched the new site in December 2016 ready for their Christmas campaign.

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Code

We built the repository by creating a customised version of CKAN. As part of the project we created four new generic open source CKAN extensions, which are hosted on GitHub, along with several CKAN extensions specific to MapAction . The marketing website uses a hosted Wordpress service.

New CKAN extensions for MapAction

Tom Daley is currently in Madrid at the International Open Data Conference and the CKANCon pre-event. Tom was part of the team that developed four new generic CKAN extensions for MapAction's Maps and Data Repository.